Good question. Many of us would like to see sanctioned top speed results, per AAA for one.

I've seen various mentions in credible sources of 78-80 mph for the 1937-39 Six, including Packard's own "Promotional Pointers," comparing that model with a Buick Model 40 (renamed Special for 1940), including crowing over another inch of seat width, seat height, legroom, brake or driveline feature, in which Packard ceded the junior Buick "four miles an hour faster."

At 16 minutes into the below, Packard claims 104 mph for the new 1940 One-Sixty sedan on their Proving Grounds' banked oval, supposedly the world's fastest paved track through the 1930s at least, permitting higher speeds than Brooklands or Indy, etc., but the below promo is hokey,only shows how the Company forgot, as with hokum like a '40 junior print ad heralded "It's happening on a thousand Main Streets," that people want what the couple in the house on the hill have, not what their neighbors aspire to.

How many ads do you see containing the adjective "downscale?" No mention if that "104 mph" is confirmed or strictly, as the promo suggests, speedometer reading, which is no better than ballpark:

FIXED! 1940 Packard Motor Car Company Film - Quality First Runtime: 18:10

Packard later ran an ad for the new '41 1/2 Clipper (introduced in April, because used car inventories traditionally lowest that time of year; same reason the Mustang debuted 1964 1/2, both new models turning out to be bellringers) showing it traveling X amount further on the same amount of gas as an old/traditional bodied '41 120, thanks to streamlining.
Off subject, but the 1949-50 bathtub Nashes had the lowest coefficient of drag of any concurrent domestic car, Packard's porky 1949-50 Custom Eight among them.

Not much help, but neither am i tendering hear tell or my uncle said.

I have top speed results of all 1949-50 domestic cars via John Bond, Road & Track's founder, tech editor, a degreed engineer who allowed no BS, but this won't conclusively answer your prewar Six question.

In aeronautics, cruising speed is that which returns greatest economy of operation. There is no single percentage of top speed for all automobiles, because of the wide variance in quality, bearing type, engine design and breathing capability, gearing, CD ratings. For example, circa 1950, 2,500 ft. per minute widely accepted as safe sustained maximum piston speed, whether low-priced car or new Bentley Continental. We've seen breathless gush over the latter's "120 mph cruising speed," for example, when 116 possible on stringent manufacturer's test only with rear seat and spare tire removed, tires pumped up to 50 psi (very dangerous).

Similarly, you'll read about Packard Twelves able to reach 100 mph. Their tallest and rare optional rear axle ratio, 4.06:1, in a roadster with rear mounted spare instead of sidemounts, top in place, no outside rear view mirrors or other effluvia, might return 90+.

A '40 Hudson Eight sedan, certainly with overdrive, Hudson's first year for that feature, gave an AAA-recorded 93 mph at Bonneville, fastest US car that year, according to article in that year's trade monthly, Automotive Industries. But perhaps Packard, Cadillac, Buick didn't bother to send a car.

Finding credible absolute speed in non-sporting cars is difficult because it wasn't an issue to many people, nor necessary in advertising. For example, did you ever see a claimed top speed given in a late '60s, '70 Olds 98, Buick Electra 225, Cadillac DeVille or Ford LTD advertisement?

When England's respected road tester/auto writer John Bolster trialed the new and pudgy '60 Jaguar XK-150S, it offering same engine tune as the coming year's new E-Type (there's no such thing as an "XKE," that's 'Murican speak, and the E did not go "150 mph" unless
rigorously tweaked with the tallest available axle), they even removed the antenna.

May this provide perspective, and given the effort Howard HH56--and OwenDyneto, Tim Cole and only a couple others -- put into their helpful, accurate replies most here take for granted, yet do not bother reciporocating, might we make rule to delete those posts laden with misspelt words? This is a site for the preservation, maintenance, rebuilding, enjoyment of Packards, a company once advertising in National Geographic, Literary Digest, the New Yorker.

If most here gathered have their cars fettled to the level of their online effort or erudition, i wouldn't ride two blocks in, let alone drive one of them.
We get it. The Branson/Dollywood/Fox set likes Packards, too. So be it. But let's have some decorum and effort. Kev's knocked himself out providing a stellar site. We should all do no less contributing in kind.

If too lazy to consult a dictionary, try Spell Check, since most here live online, not in their garages or behind the wheel.

Finally, we all know why old cars geared like tractors, so let's not spin our wheels rehashing that.

John Fogarty, you also asked for 1937-39 120 top speed. Add four of five mph to the Six figures.

John's a good man, level as the day long, honest, reasonable, has helped many of us over the years, deserves your business. Long owning a '40 120, John now has a nice '32 Light Eight roadster.

Another source if John doesn't have what you need is Jeff Adkins, Moose Motors, Penngrove near Petaluma, 45 minutes north of John. Jeff has mechanical and brake parts for '30s-'50s Packards, also rebuilds components; starters, generators, distributors, pressure plates using original Packard jigs, has R-9 and R-11 overdrive transmissions and parts, as well as Ultramatics. (707) 792-9985, packardguy54@sbcglobal.net

Reach John via John Ulrich_Packard Parts
https://www.julrichpackard.com
John Ulrich Packard parts 1928-47. Reproduction and used. Good selection of both Junior and senior Packard Parts. Quality California parts and a NO hassle ...

Please tell these gents Mike Scott, '47 Super Clipper, Walnut Creek referred you.

Meanwhile, any of you fellow lifelong Packardites recall Roland M. Crawford, Packard Parts Unlimited, Groveland, Massachusetts? Bought lotta parts from him in the '70s for my '40 120. Wonderful fellow, character actor's voice.

Always like to support these smaller companies. Certain major operations in NJ and Indiana in recent years price some of their stuff as if 'twere for Bugattis.

Hear, hear! Second HH56. Having bought from both Metro and Steele for various Packards over the many decades, suggest Metro so long as what they have fits the bill. Steele is good, anyone long in business well understands overhead, the cost of jigging up, tooling.

But perusing some of Steele's exhorbitant prices, you get the impression they've got a captive audience and well milk same, some of us remembering when this a hobby. (Cue harp strums.)

Try Metro. A bit of competition never hurts if you, too, believe in enlightened capitalism. Lord have mercy, now we're onto politics again.

Aye, lads. 'Tis indeed, as RH Factor consuls, "a ridiculous post." Amen, squared and cubed-- oops, now we've introduced religion into the mix. I, too, ponder how disparaging the sea of junk on Bezostopia "political."

Sure now, dismissing anything untidy as "political" a convenient way of banishing it. And Bezostopia thrives on convenience, regardless the misery of those so marginally employed.

Whatever you do, do not go gentle into that good www.simanaitissays.com, another beloved website, which does not suffer a bit extending beyond the immediate, the wonderful, droll Dennis Simanaitis, long Road & Track's technical editor, he a member of the SAE.

Warning: P e r h a p s not appreciated if of the Branson/Dollywood/Fox mien, in the interest of preventing future such anguish as witnessed on this thread.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, i'm s t i l l....awaiting someone to tell this repeat Packard owner, specifically, how a Packard 384 & 473 incrementally better than Pierce 384 & 462, engine for engine.
Caution: Unlike certain "news" shows, helps if you've thorough knowledge, first-hand experience with both partie-- marques.

Again, here occasionally as traffic, you know, overpopulation, has my '47 wheeled alter ego and i under house arrest. I'm for busting out. Anyone with me?

PS. Would've sworn Packard once advertised in National Geographic, the New Yorker, Literary Digest. We know Packard's out of business.

But what happened to that echelon of Packard owners?

Try John Ulrich. Good man, reasonable.
Tell him Mike Scott, Walnut Creek sent you. John's long owned a sharp '32 Light Eight roadster, speaks the auld tongue:

julrichpackard.comJohn Ulrich_Packard Parts
JOHN ULRICH. My first old car was a 1953 Mercedes 300 sedan. I was driving to a construction job in San Francisco around 1979. I turned a corner and there it was—with a “For Sale” sign. It looked

Right. I'm with Howard HH56, being of a certain age. Are we really going PC here, too? Wrecking yards were called that at best, but junkyards was the common term then. This site is about historical correctness, and Howard's the last soul here gathered any of us should chastise.

Many of us owe this gentleman and scholar immeasurable thanks.

Obviously, frugal people in the day, nascent hot rodders, customizers, DIYers, frequented "junkyards." Dutch Darrin so picked up Hudson door handles, etc. They were of great and economic value. Still are even if called "auto recyclers."

Does PCdom overrule common sense?

Tell you one thing, having lived long enough to frequent both, junkyards cheaper than auto recyclers -- and recycling close to a religion as this animist not above proclaiming Reformed Druidism if it gets him into the right clubs has.

Nice video, thanks. Love this stuff. Our cars being cars.

I lived in greater NYC 1965-70, spent much time in Manhattan and the traffic, congestion there then was less than here in the SF East Bay area, my city of a mere 74,000 today. I kid you not.

It's swell to visit the past, but not at the exclusion of confronting the present. Many of us rebuilt old cars to enjoy now and then without military planning or getting up at 5am weekends only to be back in the garage by 7am when the breeders are already racing to Star Bucks in their two-pedal whoa and go vehicles.

US city planners have long used 600 feet, the length of two short city blocks or pair of football fields without the endzones as the distance at which Americans instinctively reach for their car keys.

Most people walked, took ubiquitous street cars, trolley, interurbans, busses, subways, elevateds.

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but ourselves."

US population when the above filmed 130 million. Today, 350 million. Global population 1938-39, 2.2 billion.
Today, 8.1 billion.

The world's scientists agree this is our most pressing problem, but i guess that's "politics," so heads back in the sand.

Nice five-minute diversion from reality. I hark to Vivaldi, Chopin, Armstrong, Bechet and my Packard, but do not want to live in 1730, 1840, 1947.

So....short of moving to South Dakota or West Virginia, what do we do to ensure a future in which we can still enjoy our Packards now and then instead of living online?

Last year, i reminded those here gathered how much we owe not just Kev, but savvy, experienced, level PI contributors Howard Hanson (HH56), Owen Dyneto, Tim Cole specifically if not solely. But faced with the horn button assembly of my '47 Super Clipper's lovely J. B. Donaldson steering wheel installed back in 1997 suffering "floating imprecision" of the three screw holes holding the horn hub/rim assembly, Howard's steady, detailed advice and counsel kept my thoughtful mechanic's mechanic and i from hari kari.

Meanwhile, it'd be insult to other enthusiastic marque sites to suggest Packard Info the best on the planet, because A-C-D, Buick, Railton and other owners no doubt revere theirs.

H o w e v e r, it is hard to imagine a better marque site than Packard Info.

Kev,
Contact Jeff Adkins, Moose Motors, Penngrove, CA (Petaluma in the North Bay Area). Jeff's not only a lifelong Packard wrench and sells mechanical and electrical parts for Packards, but supplies brake parts for all old cars and trucks Auburn through Zephyr. Many northern California parts houses and shops servicing drum brakes use him exclusively. (707) 792-9985, packardguy54@sbcglobal.net Tell him Mike Scott referred you.

Jeff also rebuilds components; generators, starters, carburetors, has transmissions, overdrives for sale and parts, also Ultramatics, power brake parts and service. He also has the original jigs to rebuild Packard pressure plates so you don't have to resort to Ford truck clutches.

Jeff's a good man, reasonable, prompt turnaround, quick shipping.

What a sharp car. Flackmaster nails it, gives the best advice. Do only what he suggests and absolutely nothing else.
Love that gray, and the soft tan top makes it sing. My girlfriend has a silver Miata with a tan top; it looks understated, even elegant, despite silver today done to death.

Your '36's gray is one of my favorite colors for an old car. Might remove the trunk and carefully store it if driving the car. Looks like a big ancient Miata. That's the car that saved Packard.

Of course, fresh GL1 oil in the transmission, GL5 in the differential, flush the cooling system, 10W/30 oil, DOT5 silicone brake fluid, lube every chassis fitting 'til you see fresh starting to emerge, lube the speedometer cable, oil the clock, door, trunk, hood hinges, etc.

Looks like Santa was good to you this year.